Interest in Cahill cooled as Kolo escapes ban

Manchester City's interest in Bolton defender Gary Cahill is believed to have cooled after Kolo Toure escaped a major ban for drug use.

City have been tracking Cahill for months, and were reportedly putting together a £17m deal which would have included Nedum Onuoha, but now those plans are understood to have been shelved.

Blues boss Roberto Mancini had initially made a new centre-half a priority in the wake of Toure's positive drugs test.

However, he is less anxious about the problem after learning that the former Arsenal man will be available again by September 2nd, which is before the start of City's Champions League campaign.

Mancini is also looking at Vincent Kompany's Belgium team-mate Jan Vertonghen, who could be bought for a lot less than Cahill from Ajax.

Kompany is convinced he would be an excellent addition for City, particularly as he could be used as a left-back or a defensive midfielder, even though his boss wasn't totally impressed by him following a recent scouting trip.

The Belgian international told the Manchester Evening News: "You hear 40 names per month of players who could move to Manchester City. However, it is not a coincidence that Vertonghen is linked with the club.

"Jan is ready to make the next step and is good enough for City.

"I am sure that he will succeed at his next club, regardless of whether he joins us or decides to move elsewhere. He is simply a fantastic footballer."